JIM LAUDERDALE/CARRIE RODRIGUEZ, CLUB HELSINKI, 11/6/10

by Michael Eck
Special to The Times Union
HUDSON – Part Webb Pierce, part John Fogerty, Jim Lauderdale is not an easy man to pin down. But like both of those men he understands the power of a good song that gets to the point lyrically and melodically and then gets out of the way.
The ever-prolific Lauderdale wowed a packed house at Hudson’s beautiful Club Helsinki on Saturday night, rolling out two dozen tunes each of which was anchored in classic American music without playing slave to it.
Lauderdale is like a walking history book of country music, and his flashy look (Saturday’s togs were mauve and spangled, straight out of the Nudie’s catalog) and searing voice come straight out of Nashville circe 1962. But he also freely dipped into blues, bluegrass and even some mighty pop.
In between he doled out some painfully corny shtick, much of which went over like a lead ballon. But that was OK, because as soon as he was done his bits it meant another song was on the way.
Lauderdale played solo at Helsinki, strumming a big guitar. But his voice is room-filling. “Divide and Conquer,” from 1994’s exemplary “Pretty Close to The Truth,” began with a single, extended keening note, much like the above-mentioned Webb Pierce’s killer 1953 hit “There Stands the Glass.” It was as if Lauderdale was announcing, “I’m here!”
“Jawbone,” with lyrics by Grateful Dead associate Robert Hunter was swampy, “Like Him” was spare and soulful and “Always on the Outside,” co-written with Nick Lowe, was slick and rocking.
At one point Lauderdale stood back, simply drinking in the ambiance of the new club. He delivered a powerhouse performance at the original cramped but cozy venue, in Great Barrington and was clearly smitten with the spacious new surroundings.
“This is one of the best places I’ve ever played in,” he beamed.
Texas singer and fiddler Carrie Rodriguez shared the bill with Lauderdale, and she clearly had her own fans in the house. Accompanied by guitarist Hans Holzen, she played tunes from throughout her catalog, including selections from her duo days with songwriter Chip Taylor.
“Seven Angels on a Bicycle” — with Rodriguez on four-string electric mandolin — was haunting and atmospheric, with an almost U2-like drone. “50s French Movie,” by turn, was quite bluesy, with Rodriguez knocking out tight, dark phrases on her fiddle.
After Lauderdale’s long set, Rodriguez and Holzen returned with him for encores, including — not surprisingly — songs by Merle Haggard and the Louvin Brothers.
Rodriguez took the lead on both “Today I Started Loving You Again” and “My Baby’s Gone.” That may seem strange given it was Lauderdale’s set, but he’s made a second career out of being a harmony singer and was actually on the David Letterman show earlier in the week singing behind Elvis Costello.